Bluesky, the popular alternative to X (formerly Twitter), has seen a massive surge in users since November 2024, with around 1 million new sign-ups per day. Whether you’re leaving X or just curious, here’s a quick guide to get you started on Bluesky.
Signing Up for Bluesky
Anyone over the age of 13 can join Bluesky, as long as it’s legal in their country. To create an account, visit bsky.app or download the app from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The registration process is straightforward: enter your email, create a password, and select a unique username (or handle) using letters, numbers, and hyphens. You can even use your own domain name as your handle, much like Ben Stiller or NPR.
Once you’ve completed a captcha and added a profile photo or emoji avatar, you’ll select interests from a list of 22 categories like Art, Movies, and Tech to help personalize your “Discover” feed.
Finding Accounts to Follow
When you first sign up, your feed will include only the official Bluesky account. To find accounts to follow, you can scroll through your “Discover” feed, which will show posts related to your selected interests. You can also search for specific users or browse the most popular accounts on Bluesky.
A unique feature on Bluesky is the “Starter Packs.” These packs, created by popular users, offer curated lists of accounts to follow. If you find a starter pack that suits your interests, you can easily follow all the recommended accounts with a single click.
For those looking to recreate their X experience, third-party tools can help you find and follow your old X accounts on Bluesky.
With its focus on customization, privacy, and community-driven moderation, Bluesky is quickly becoming a go-to platform for social media users seeking an alternative to X.
